Ep 7. NAEMT Radio – Exemplifying Outstanding Professionalism

_{In this edition of NAEMT Radio we examine the careers of two NAEMT Members, Karen L. Larsen,  a Nurse Practitioner for both St. Luke Hospital & Living Center and StatCare of Kansas and Brian Stennett, Firefighter/Paramedic for the Village of Palatine Fire Department (Palatine, IL). Both Karen and Brian both exemplify outstanding professionalism in our profession and their share their thoughts about professionalism and leadership. NAEMT Radio is hosted by NAEMT Member and Lighthouse Leadership Mentor - Rob Lawrence.}

_{About our Guests:}

_{Karen Larsen, Director, Region IV (2022-2023)}

_{Karen L. Larsen, DNP, MSN, APRN, ENP-C, NP-C, CFRN, CEN, CPEN, FP-C, NRP, has more than three decades of healthcare experience with an extensive background in prehospital medical care and emergency nursing. She is a Nurse Practitioner for both St. Luke Hospital & Living Center and StatCare of Kansas, and has over 15 years of experience as a Flight Nurse/Education Specialist for LifeSave Transport, all in Kansas. She also volunteers as a paramedic for Marion County EMS and is a reserve paramedic and education specialist for Concordia Fire/EMS.}

_{Karen holds numerous certifications, is Board Certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a Kansas Certified Paramedic. She is a member of several professional associations including ASTNA, ENA, KEMTA, KEMSA, and is an Affiliate Faculty member for NAEMT and AHA. Karen serves on the education committee for NAEMT as well as representing NAEMT on the IBSC Board.}

_{Karen has received many awards, including a KEMTA’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) Attendant of the Year award and Lyle Eckert award, as well as NAEMT’s education recognition for Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS). She earned her Doctorate of Nursing from Chatham University in Pennsylvania, Master’s in Nursing-FNP from Graceland University in Missouri, Bachelor’s in Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau Cum Laude, from Southwestern College, and Paramedic certification from Midwest Academy of Pre-Hospital Sciences in Kansas.} 

_{BRIAN STENNETT MPH, DICO-C}

_{Brian has over 20 years of EMS experience in both private and municipal EMS agencies.  He has a strong background in emergency preparedness, infection control, public health and epidemiology and holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology.} 

_{Brian currently works for the Village of Palatine Fire Department (Palatine, IL) as a Firefighter/Paramedic, responding to 9000 calls for service annually.  He is the Infection Control Officer and a Fire Investigator.  Additionally, he serves as the Emergency Preparedness Manager for Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) in Arlington Heights, IL.  NCH is a healthcare organization with 4300 employees at one 509-bed hospital, 5 Immediate Care Centers and multiple surgical centers and physician group locations.}

_{Brian is a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and Vice-Chair of the NAEMT EMS Disaster Committee, and also the NAEMT liaison to the NETEC Steering Committee working to develop the National Special Pathogens (NSPS) Care Delivery Network. Brian serves as the President of the National Association of Public Safety Infection Control Officers and a member of the Association of Hospital Emergency Preparedness Professionals. Areas of expertise include: Public Health and Epidemiology, Emerging and Endemic Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medical and Trauma Care in the Pre-Hospital Setting, EMT/Paramedic Training and Education, Infection Control and Occupational Biohazard Exposure Management, Disaster Response and Emergency Management, National Incident Command Systems (NIMS), and Policy Writing and Enforcement. Additionally, he is  a FEMA certified instructor at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in the Highly Infectious Disease course as well as a Hospital Emergency Response Taskforce training instructor.}